PRODUCER PROFILE
[ Q & A WITH HILLSONG PRODUCER MICHAEL GUY CHISLETT | Doug Doppler ]
Sydney , Australia based producer Michael Guy Chislett may be the most prolific producer you ’ ve never heard of . After a stint in L . A . as |
I was able to isolate the difference between being an audio-obsessed listener and a music listener . |
mega-producer Butch Walker ’ s go-to session |
guitarist , Michael headed back to Sydney to become the producer for Hillsong Young and Free , Hillsong United , and Hillsong Worship , |
I am a pretty quirky guitarist , and I sit pretty ahead of the beat . Butch actually sits way more in the pocket than me , but I think he enjoyed |
whose |
single |
“ What |
a |
my vibe . A few times I would |
Beautiful Name ” has a whopping 58,000,000 plays on YouTube .
[ GTR ] When you were doing session work for Butch Walker , you also played in his band . What are some of the things you learned during that time ?
[ Michael Guy Chislett ] The first recording we did together was the Butch Walker and the Let ’ s-Go-
I am guilty of getting something perfect that doesn ’ t necessarily make it better to listen to . have an awesome riff that I just couldn ’ t nail – I would get three takes in and he would say , “ I ’ ll give you two more shots and if you don ’ t nail it , sorry , but let ’ s move on .” I am guilty of getting something perfect that doesn ’ t necessarily make it better to listen to . Butch would be able to hear something that wasn ’ t perfectly played but call it perfect and we would move on to something else . Within two hours , I would be Out-Tonites album . The engineer was having hearing it as a listener and decide that I loved issues with the kick drum , so Butch gave that take and think , “ It ’ s not perfect , but man , them an hour to fix it . When it still didn ’ t get it has a vibe !” better he said , “ OK , I ’ ll give you another twenty minutes and then we will have to move on .” [ GTR ] When you ’ re tracking guitar in the studio Butch turned to me and said , “ There are no big with Hillsong United , you tend to use different songs out there because of the sound of the guitars versus a wall of amps to create your go kick drum sound , right ?” This was the first time to sounds . What is your strategy around this ?
[ Michael ] I have a 1962 Vox AC30 . I bought it when I was sixteen – saved every cent for a year or two . This was when the Line 6 stuff was going crazy and everyone was getting rid of their vintage amps . This amp is the secret weapon for most of our stuff . I don ’ t even change the settings ! It sounds strange but I love guitars , I love the sound of a Strat , or a Gretsch White Falcon , but amps ... I don ’ t love Marshalls and I find it hard to work Fender amps into the right spot . Sometimes I will use a Goodsell Custom 33 head I got about ten years ago , it ’ s a great amp and it blends well with the Vox . I have been using a popular guy here in Sydney named Dave Peach who is famous for modding amps . He has been looking after my Vox for years , and I plan to have him mod some modern amps for me .
[ GTR ] In addition to producing Hillsong United , you also play guitar with them on tour . As a producer , what is it like seeing songs you ’ ve labored over in the studio come to life on the road ?
[ Michael ] It ’ s nice seeing the songs unfold in front of the listener ! I toured with Butch for two years , and it taught me that without being face to face with the listener , how can you create something culturally relevant to them ? Every night we play , I am reminded why some tempos
28 Sep � Oct 2017 GearTechRec . com